SANTA CLARA – What should the 49ers know about the Detroit Lions ahead of Sunday’s home opener at Levi’s Stadium? If the Lions’ 48-17 blowout loss on Monday night to the New York Jets didn’t provide enough clues, here are five questions with Lions beat writer Justin Rogers of the Detroit News:

Is a mutiny afoot with veterans ready to turn on new coach Matt Patricia, even though any veteran worth his salt should be upset after a 48-17 blowout? And why is Patricia reserving his conference call with Bay Area media until Friday?

Rogers: “There’s been some grumbling among the veterans, but we’re a long way from a mutiny. Despite the loss to the Jets, as ugly and as pitiful as it was, almost everyone in the building is preaching patience with the process of overhauling the culture. Patricia is still well within his grace period, with his players and the front office, but the time frame probably shortened a bit after a punishing training camp returning that result.
Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia talks with the media before a practice session at the Marriott Napa Valley Hotel & Spa on Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018, in Napa, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)

“As for the conference call, well, that’s par for the course with Patricia. For all the talk about his brilliant mind, he’s extremely disorganized with the in-week management of his responsibilities. Media schedules have been released last minute all year and I’ve been told by a few different people in the building, those issues aren’t strictly limited to the media.”

How is Matthew Stafford doing, both physically after taking a shot in the ribs and mentally after gifting four interceptions to the Jets?

Rogers: “All you have to do is look at Matthew Stafford’s start streak and you’ll know he’s as tough as they come. He took a couple bad shots on Monday night, especially having left tackle Taylor Decker roll up on his knee and the aforementioned shot to the ribs from USC alum Leonard Williams.

“Stafford talked a bit about his condition during a radio interview this week. He said the knee got hyper-extended, but it was more of a mental scare than anything. As for the other shot, he’s sticking to the story he only had the wind knocked from him. If it’s something worse, such as bruised ribs, it certainly wouldn’t be the first time he played through that condition.”

Can the 49ers expect Ziggy Ansah to come barreling toward JimmyGaroppolo, and, if not, what makes the Lions defense tick?

Rogers: “I’m answering this on Wednesday morning, and Lions won’t practice in front of the media until Thursday, so the honest answer is, I don’t know if Ansah plays on Sunday. He suffered a shoulder injury in the first half against the Jets and has a history of issues with that, requiring at least one surgery as a professional.

“If Ansah isn’t out there, the Lions defense is in trouble. He’s the only one capable of consistently disrupting the pocket and doesn’t get enough credit for his run defense, an area where the entire line is struggling to adapt to Patricia’s scheme.”
In this Feb. 25, 2013 file photo, Ziggy Ansah runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. Ansah is a possible first round pick in the NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Dave Martin, File)

How is former 49ers outside linebacker Eli Harold being used?

Rogers: “Sparingly. He played a grand total of nine snaps in the opener, and that was probably more than designed given Detroit’s depth situation following Ansah’s injury. Right now, most of Harold’s work is coming as an edge defender.

“The Lions are intrigued by Harold’s length and his ability to put that to good use. You know the story with his experience in San Francisco. He never came close to reaching his potential, but with three coaches, coordinators and position coaches, that can definitely stunt a young player’s development. The Lions have a couple more weeks to decide if they want to continue on with the project or move on and reclaim the conditional seventh-round pick they paid to acquire him.”
Dallas Cowboys’ Dak Prescott (4) throws the ball away under pressure against San Francisco 49ers’ Eli Harold (57) in the first quarter of their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

We’ve heard the Lions have a stable of running backs, so how are they used and could one stick around after the game in a trade to bolster the 49ers corps?

Rogers: “Just about everyone around these parts believe Ameer Abdullah would be a logical fit if the two sides want to work out another trade. He’s had some injury issues, but is still a capable, talented dual-threat with big-play potential. He was a healthy scratch in Week 1, in favor of new additions Kerryon Johnson and LeGarrette Blount.
Oakland Raiders’ Rashaan Melvin (22), left, and Derrick Johnson (56), center, tackle Detroit Lions’ Ameer Abdullah (21), right, in the first quarter of their preseason NFL game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. (Randy Vazquez/ Bay Area News Group)

“Johnson looks like he might be the truth, but the Lions are only sprinkling him in at this point. He was their best runner in the opener, plus had an under-the-radar, one-handed grab after most people had turned off the game. He deserves an expanded role. Other than that, Blount provides the power and Theo Riddick is an ideal third-down back with plus pass pro and plus-plus skills as a receiver out of the backfield.”

Score prediction: 49ers 27, Lions 20

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Here are the five questions Rogers posed to me about the Lions:

It’s easy to overanalyze Week 1, but what was your biggest takeaway from the season-opening loss to the Vikings?

Inman: “Not only is Jimmy Garoppolo mortal (he was 7-0 as a career starter before this “L”) but he still needs a more reliable supporting cast. The 49ers blew golden opportunities to Silence The Skol.

“Alfred Morris fumbled on the goal line. A young receiver (Kendrick Bourne) ran the wrong route for a Vikings pick-six. Injuries at right guard had a ripple effect. And tight end George Kittle can’t be crowned Gronkittle yet, not after dropping a bomb at midfield that could have been a potential 80-yard TD.

“Simply put, the 49ers are 0-1 because they’re not yet ready to morph into the 10-6 team some (me) envisioned.”
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, center, is sacked by Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson (93) and defensive end Everson Griffen (97) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Jerick McKinnon was a big part of the offseason plan. How is the backfield rotation shaking out without him?

Inman: “McKinnon’s ACL tear a week before the season is devastating. He was coach Kyle Shanahan’s dual-threat dream. So now they’re stuck with veteran Alfred Morris (70 career starts) evenly splitting time with speedy Matt Breida (0 starts). That duo combined for one catch in the opener (a 5-yarder by Breida). If this continues, so will 49ers fans’ desperate pleas for Le’Veon Bell.

Richard Sherman played all 71 snaps against Minnesota. How did he look and was the performance enough to alleviate lingering concerns coming off last year’s Achilles injury?

Inman: “Sherman was a bright spot, and he has been since arriving as their former arch enemy from Seattle. He gave up an early, 18-yard catch on a double move but successfully defended the other pass that came his way. So Kirk Cousins didn’t test him much.

“Sherman did recover a fumble and what he did after was neat: he ran over to the sideline with it and handed it to Garoppolo, who took that turnover and led the 49ers on a second-quarter drive to the Vikings 1 (where Morris fumbled).”

George Kittle had a quietly productive rookie year that picked up steam after Jimmy Garoppolo was inserted into the lineup. After racking up 90 yards in the opener, are we looking at the start of a breakout season?

Inman: “Kittle had a mixed debut. Yes, he delivered big plays with receptions of 36, 18, 14 and 13 yards. But he also dropped a beautiful bomb at midfield, and Garoppolo overthrew him in the end zone later. He’s a work in project. But he looks like a 2017 fifth-round steal.”

Speaking of Garoppolo, he and Lions coach Matt Patricia know each other well from their time in New England. Do you see that familiarity benefiting either one more heading into this matchup?

Inman: “Whatever tendencies Patricia is scribbling down with his pencil are no secret to other coaches by now: Garoppolo will stay in the pocket, he will be reckless a time or two with interception-potential throws, he will struggle in the red zone, he will inspire teammates and he will benefit from Shanahan’s play calling.”